A drug rehabilitation charity is warning users a cocktail of heroin and anesthetic could be putting their lives at risk.

Addaction, which has a base in Weston-super-Mare, said it is increasingly concerned about reports of heroin being mixed with fentanyl and carfentanyl – chemicals commonly used in anesthetics and painkillers.

Rachel Britton, who works for the charity, said there was evidence to suggest that the dangerous mix had been found in Bath and Wiltshire and warned evidence suggested the cut will only "become more widespread" in the South West.

An Addaction spokesperson said: “We are concerned about emerging reports of an increasing number of cases where heroin has been mixed with fentanyl or carfentanyl. Both these drugs are far more potent than heroin and so the risks of overdose and death are greater even when taking a very small amount.

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Fentanyls have many of the same side effects as heroin including sedation and respiratory depression, so it can be difficult to tell if a batch has been cut with the synthetic opioids.

Fentanyl is about 100 times more potent than morphine, while carfentanyl is 4,000-10,000 times more potent. The charity say the opioids are usually “quick acting and very strong” and even small amounts could be fatal for someone who is already using heroin.

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Addaction has issued a series of guidelines for people who suspect they are using heroin cut with fentanyls including taking smaller amounts of a new supply, never using heroin alone and seeking drug addiction treatment.

Advice for people at risk of using heroin cut with fentanyls from Addaction:

Be extra cautious about where they get their drugs from and what they are taking

Take extra care if starting a new supply, and consider using smaller doses

Avoid using alongside other drugs, including alcohol

Avoid using alone and ensure you have Naloxone, if possible

Know the signs of overdose – they include loss of consciousness, shallow or absent breathing, ‘snoring’ and/or blue lips or fingertips – and be prepared to call 999 immediately if you think someone has overdosed